Things That Don't Work and Things That Do on a Sunday

or...Consumer Corner

I was in the Cdn Tire Store a few months back, browsing around and I came upon the floor cleaning and mop section.

So what -right?

Well, we happen to have a number of cats in the house and it's my job to take care of their 'toilet area'.

I keep their litter boxes in one corner of the unfinished side of our basement where all the utilitarian stuff happens - laundry, storage, christmas lights, golf bags and sports equipment.

Now I'm really quite pleased with that area. It's my domain you see. Cat Litter boxes! OOOOH Les McConnell has come far in life right? I know, but if you're going to have pets, you have to take care of them .

I have laid down a half inch thick industrial rubber inter-linking pad section, covering about twenty square feet. On top of that I put sections of the old newsprint and lay it down.

Well the problem with some cats, is that, as they grow older they become either lazy or sloppy or develop some kind of Alsheimer's and while they 'aim to please, they do not always aim carefully'. And thus one has to take precautions.

Once the newsprint absorbant function has been duly fufilled, I daintily maneuvre the soggy sagger into an old 'Staples' bag (Bureau En Gros in Quebec) and toss it into the trash outside. And since the industrial rubber mat (from Cosco) is out for airing, it's time to get out the mop and Mr. Clean.

First, I take my Bissel Magic Vac (purchased in a driveway sale I think) and suck up the stray little clay imbued pieces of cat litter. Why 'clay imbued'? Well this is that kind of litter that 'clumps' when touched by moisture. Wow! What an innovation! Do I love my clay imbued kitty Litter...especially the 15 liter box of "Compliments' from IGA at $7.00.

So I run the hand held Magic-Vac-on-a-pole over the big rubber square and zap! Into the cup the stray pieces go...all without the need of a broom and dust pan. I can just empty the stuff from the collection cup back into the Kitty Litter box for continued use.

So I was in the Canadian Tire in the mop section checking out the traditional string sloppers, and the more innovative squeeze sponge mops and -hey! What is that! Something new! A red Vileda ultra mop that uses absorbant cloth and has a system in the bucket to enable you to fold the mop sections allegedly without getting your hands wet while inserting it into a fixed squeezer in the bucket.

Sounded like a good idea and I just had to try one, being the innovative consumer that I am.

And guess what... I got my hands wet, and not only that, when I went to wring it out, I had to wrestle the wet plastic holder with my fingers to unsnap it from mopping position to inverted wringing position.

Then when I tried to insert the wet sopping material in the wringer, the cloth slipped off the holder and plops onto the floor! Splat! The cats looked on in amusement and wonder.

I think they were wondering when they could go again, since the box area was now off limits to felines. So my first thought naturally was, "I am doing something wrong".

Ah! The internet! I went on-line and checked out their demonstrations. Well those things are really not complete. No matter what I did, the darn thing just would not conform to the ideal demonstration.

So it was back to the 'tried and true' sponge mop and squeezer. I have a feeling this new mop was geared for people like me. They know I'm not going to bring it back, and know I'll toss it in disgust.

But hey! I do have something that works really well and is great if you have cats. It's called a Litter Locker. Fantastic!

Normally, every day when removing the clumps of residual cat stuff out of the litter box with the special shovel, I put it into a biodegradable bag (from Dollar Store), head upstairs, grab my coat and walk outside and to the trash can. Well with this little Kitty Locker parked next the cat boxes, you can drop the stuff in there and leave it until full...and guess what? NO Stink!
I love it. I just have to dispose of the internal stuffed bag once a week -and I have three indoor cats!

Alright. I think the rubber pad should be dry by now. It's time to allow my Financial Post and Montreal Gazette to transacend their lofty existence and assume the absorbant pose. Namaste.